Karine Konan Dubois
Karine Konan Dubois is a dedicated lawyer and labour rights activist with more than 10 years of experience specialising in labour law and human rights law.
She currently serves as legal counsel at the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), where she advocates for human rights in the workplace and litigates labour and anti-discrimination cases. Before joining PSAC, Karine served as a lawyer at Legal Aid Montreal, representing vulnerable and marginalised clients, and advocating for justice and equity within underserved communities.
Karine is particularly interested in exploring how trade unions can leverage diverse tools to advance and promote racial justice, including international human rights instruments, strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and transnational alliances. Her professional experience underscores both the transformative potential of unions as key actors in addressing systemic inequities and their ongoing need to strengthen capacities to more effectively challenge anti-Black racism.
Beyond her legal practice, Karine's passion for international law and human rights is rooted in her family history. Her grandfather, a Baoulé Chief in Ivory Coast, was sent to a forced labour camp at the age of six under colonial rule. This legacy drives her active involvement in global advocacy, notably as a co-founder of the Reparations Committee of the African Bar Association, emphasising justice and reparations for colonial violence. Karine has represented the African Bar Association at the third Session of the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, advocating for reparations on the global stage.
As a Canadian African lawyer of Ivorian descent, her identity and heritage profoundly influence her work. Her work and aspirations are deeply rooted in a pan-African vision, connecting the African continent with its diaspora.